In the discipline of Philosophy of Education the German concept of Bildung (Schiller, Goethe, Humboldt and later Gadamer) is enjoying a renaissance. The term is difficult to translate. It is opposed to therapy and vocational training and is related to what in the English-speaking world is called liberal education, self-edification or, in Richard Rorty’s words, a way of ”redescribing ourselves” in the era of contingency.

Philosophical Practice and Counselling is a new field in philosophy which bears a remarkable resemblance to the notion of ethical self-care and Bildung. It was first described in 1981 by the German philosopher Gerd Achenbach and has since established itself as an international discipline and practice. It represents an attempt to unite reflection and action: to improve life through philosophical dialogue with a philosophical practitioner.

The aim of Philosophical Practice and Counselling is to help the “guest” become more aware of his or her philosophical self-understanding and assumptions and indeed to critically investigate these assumptions. Philosophical practice should not be confused with therapy or educational training. It is a practice that opens up a space for inquiry into ethical, value-based and existential questions.

The result of merging philosophical thought and real-life practice is neither a hybrid between philosophy and psychology nor a cross-breed of philosophy and pedagogy, but philosophy “proper”. Today, philosophical practice is gaining ground, not only in individual counselling, but also in supporting companies, organizations and associations in their attempts to critically investigate and discuss their convictions, values and orientation.

With this 7th International Conference on Philosophical Practice we seek to examine the nature of philosophical practice, its relation to the concept of Bildung and the need for dialogue that can strengthen individual self-formation, while at the same time acknowledging the limitations of self-formation. The conference will discuss the possibilities for developing philosophical practice beyond the academy in the fields of education, human resource development, health and care as well as business and management. And of course to critically reflect on this practice in strictly academic disciplines such as, for instance, philosophy of education. Her finner du konferansens egne sider (pop up).